Strand drawing apparatus including means for preparing the leading end of the strand

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for drawing stiff strand, such as large diameter tube, which apparatus includes means for moving receptacles, such as trays, containing coiled strand into an endless path, and in the endless path to and from a drawing unit. The apparatus includes a preparation station wherein by mechanical means the leading end of the stiff tube is moved into a preparation position, the leading end of the tube is grasped and dimpled so that it will prevent loss of a plug that is inserted into the end of the tube along with lubricant, the leading end of the tube is then pointed while it is so grasped, and the pointed leading end of the tube is mechanically moved to and through a die to the capstan of the drawing unit, on which leading end of the tube is grasped by a gripper. The tube is then wound on the capstan for a sufficient number of turns to provide a firm grip of the tube, after which the leading end of the tube is released and the drawing operation continued. During the drawing operation the drawn tube is discharged downwardly over the free end of the capstan into one of the receptacles which has moved to and located below the capstan to receive a coil of drawn tube. The coil of drawn tube may then be moved through the path to a discharge station, or moved back to the preparation station in which the leading end of the tube is again prepared and inserted through the die and connected to the drawing unit for redrawing.

United States Patent [191 Schuetz Aug. 6, 1974 STRAND DRAWING APPARATUSINCLUDING MEANS FOR PREPARING THE LEADING END OF THE STRAND [75]Inventor: James W. Schuetz, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Aetna Standard Engineering Company, Ellwood City, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 20, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 299,236

[52] US. Cl. 72/289, 72/420 [51] Int. Cl. 321C 1/02 [58] Field of Search72/278, 283, 287, 289, 72/420, 424; 242/79 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,885,060 5/1959 Dobosy 242/79 3,218,836 11/1965 Copperet al. 72/278 3,339,396 9/l967 Carlson 72/289 3,536,274 l0/l970Tommarello... 242/79 3,587,287 6/l97l Vacca 72/404 3,598,251 8/l97lSieurin 242/79 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for drawing stiff strand, such aslarge diameter tube, which apparatus includes means for movingreceptacles, such as trays, containing coiled strand into an endlesspath, and in the endless path to and from a drawing unit. The apparatusincludes a preparation station wherein by mechanical means the leadingend of the stiff tube is moved into a preparation position, the leadingend of the tube is grasped and dimpled so that it will prevent loss of aplug that is inserted into the end of the tube along with lubricant, theleading end of the tube is then pointed while it is so grasped, and thepointed leading end of the tube is mechanically moved to and through adie to the capstan of the drawing unit, on which leading end of the tubeis grasped by a gripper. The tube is then wound on the capstan for asufficient number of turns to provide a firm grip of the tube, afterwhich the leading end of the tube is released and the drawing operationcontinued. During the drawing operation the drawn tube is dischargeddownwardly over the free end of the capstan into one of the receptacleswhich has moved to and located below the capstan to receive a coil ofdrawn tube. The coil of drawn tube may then be moved through the path toa discharge station, or moved back to the preparation station in whichthe leading end of the tube is again prepared and inserted.

through the die and connected to the drawing unit for redrawing.

FAIENIEUMJB 6W 3.827. 274

SHEEI 3 BF 6 FIGA.

STRAND DRAWING APPARATUS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PREPARING THE LEADING ENDOF THE STRAND FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates tocontinuous strand drawing apparatus in which a long length of strandfrom a suitable source such as a coil, is drawn through a die by capstanor drum, and more particularly to such apparatus for handling anddrawing substantially stiff strands such as relatively large diametertubes, especially before and during starting of the drawing operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART There is increasing need to draw longlengths to stiff strand into strands of smaller cross section withoutdamage to the strand. The operation is particularly difficult when thestrand is stiff, as when the strand is a tube of relatively largediameter.

The invention will be discussed and described hereafter in connectionwith the drawing to smaller diameters of stiff tubes of relatively largediameter, because of the exceptional advantages of the invention in suchuse.

In prior apparatus for drawing tubes it has been known to draw a tubethrough a die by an apparatus, often referred to as a bull blockembodying a capstan rotatable about a vertical axis and having a freelower end. Tube from a suitable source, such as a coil in a tray, isdrawn through a die and passes to the capstan on which it is wound in asufficient number of turns to provide a firm grip on the tube; as thecapstan rotates tube winds on the capstan as the tube is drawn and turnsof drawn tube drop off the lower free end of the capstan to form a coilon a receiving member. In drawing large diameter tubes, it has beenfound desirable to provide inside the tube a plug that is larger thanthe inside of the drawn tube and that locates itself in the tubeadjacent the point where the tube passes through the die, to. preventthe tube wall from collapsing during drawing, and to aid in reducingthickness of the tube wall between the die and the plug and in reducingtube diameter. To prevent the plug falling inwardly into the tube whenit is initially inserted in the free end of the tube prior tocommencement of drawing, it is necessary to dimple or depress the tubewall inwardly prior to plug insertion, so the plug is between the freeend of the tube and the depression or dimple which acts as a temporarystop for the plug. Moreover, it is desirable to inject lubricant intothe tube to lubricate the inner wall of the tube as it slides over theplug. Furthermore, it is necessary after insertion of the plug and priorto drawing, to point or reduce in diameter the end portion of the tubeto permit it to be initially passed through the die and be connected toa gripper on the capstan that temporarily grips the tube end until anumber of turns of tube are initially wound on the rotating capstan tosufficiently cause the tube firmly to grip the capstan after which thetube is released from the gripper and drawing continues. Moreover, it isoften necessary to straighten the end portion of the tube if the tube issupplied in a coil, to permit the foregoing operations to be carriedout.

Heretofore, it has been the usual practice manually to handle the endportion of the tube in performing necessary tube preparation operations,such as dimpling, plug insertion, lubricant injection, tube pointing,

and moving the pointed end of the tube through the die and connecting itto the capstan gripper. However, it is very difficult if not impossiblemanually to perform these tube preparation operations on tubes of largediameter that are substantially stiff.

Furthermore, such a stiff tube creates a problem of straightening theleading end portion of a tube that is curved because the tube issupplied from a coil of tube, the leading end of which has not beenpreviously made straight in a previous operation; such curved end canoccur, for example, if the tube breaks as it is drawn from a coilthrough a die.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes these and otherdisadvantages and makes it possible for stiff strands, such as largediameter tubes, despite their stiffness, to be non-manually ormechanically handled during initial preparation operations, which mayinclude as many as desired of the operations of straightening theleading end portion of a tube to be drawn, dimpling the tube, insertinga plug into the tube, lubricating the plug, pointing the tube end, andpassing the leading end of the tube through the die so the free tube endcan be gripped by the capstan gripper.

An object of the invention is the provision of apparatus that overcomesthe above described and other disadvantages of prior appratus, and makespossible the expeditious, rapid, mechanical handling of a stiff strandsuch as a large diameter tube during the initial preparation operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The above and other features, advantages,and objects of the invention wil become apparent from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment of the invention in connectionwith the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan, to a small scale, along line 1-1 of FIG. 2 ofapparatus embodying the invention for drawing large diameter tubes, thesupporting frame and other parts of the tube preparation station beingomitted for clearness in showing the remainder of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a section to the same scale along line 2-2 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 3 is a section to the same scale along line 33 of FIG. ll;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatic section, to a scale substantiallylarger than that of the preceding figures,

of the pointed leading end of a tube of large diameter as it extendsthrough the die and to the capstan gripper prior to drawing;

FIG. 5 is a section along line 5-5 of FIG. 1, to a larger scale, showinga side elevation of the tube preparation station included in theapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a plan of the apparatus of FIG. 5 and to the same scale;

FIG. 7 is a section along line 7-7 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a section along line 8-8 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a section along line 9-9 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT General Arrangement Theillustrated apparatus (FIGS. 1, 2) comprises a tube drawing unit 1,often called a bull block", to

which tubes T to be drawn are brought in coils C in open toppedgenerally cylindrical receptacles or trays 2, and from which coiled tubeafter drawing is removed in other trays 2.

The apparatus also includes a tray transportation system 3 for movingthe trays in an endless path to and from the drawing unit 1. The systemincludes a conveyor system 4 for moving into the endless path at stationS-1 trays containing coils of tube to be drawn and for removing from thepath rays containing coils of tube after it has been drawn to thedesired size.

The system also includes a station 8-2 in which the tray is halted andlocated when preparation operations are performed on the leading end ofthe tube that is coiled in the tray, a payoff station 8-3 to which thetray is moved and located when tube passes from the tray to the drawingunit 1, and a receiving station 84 at which drawn tubing discharged fromunit 1 is deposited in the tray.

The remaining stations S-S around the endless path are storage locationsfor the trays.

The apparatus also includes a tube preparation station S-6 to bedescribed later.

An operators platform 5 is located within the path of thetrays adjacentdrawing unit 1 and tube preparation station 8-6.

The trays, some or all of which contain coils of tube, are successivelypassed from station S-1 to and through stations S-2, 8-3, 8-4, and S-5,the tube in each tray being drawn by unit 1, until all of the coiledtubes in all of the trays have been subjected to the same drawingoperation.

Depending on the sizes of tubing initially supplied and ultimatelydesired, the tubing in each tray may, if desired, be drawn only oncebefore it is removed. However, if substantial reduction in tube diameteris desired, the tubes in all of the trays may be passed to, through, andfrom the drawing unit more than once to provide several passes throughthe drawing unit. In such case the die is preferably changed to one ofsmaller diameter after all of the trays have passed through a cycle andtheir tubes drawn once through a die of a predetermined size.

In each case, however, before tube in a coil in the tray can be drawn byunit 1, the leading end portion of the tube in the coil is handled andoperated upon by the tube preparation station S6.

In the illustrated embodiment, at the tube preparation station theleading end portion of the coiled tube in the tray 2 at station S-2 ismechanically gripped and lifted to a tube pointing position, where ifdesired, it is first dimpled and a plug and lubricant then inserted intothe tube from its free end to a location between the free end and thedimpled portion. The free end of the tube is then pointed or reduced indiameter by an amount and for a length sufficient to allow the tube endto pass through the die 6 in die box 7 of drawing unit 1 to a gripper 8on capstan 9 of unit 1, the pointed end of the tube being passed throughthe die to the gripper at a speed synchronized with the speed at whichthe tray containing the coil is transferred from station S-2 to station8-3 by unit 3.

If the tube should break at or beyond the die, the tube preparationstation is operated to remove the new free end of the coil from the diebox while the tray containing the coil returns from station 8-3 tostation S-2, straightens the new free end portion caused by the break toprovide the required length of straight tube for feeding from the die tothe gripper, dimples the tube end and permits insertion of a plug andlubricant, repoints the tube end, and then refeeds the tube end throughthe die to the gripper of the drawing unit capstan.

All of the trays 2 preferably are identical; they may be of knownconstruction, each having (FIGS. 1, 2, 5-7) a generally flat bottom 10with a central opening 11, an upstanding circular outer sidewall 12 andan upstanding circular inner sidewall 13 defining between them anupwardly open channel 14 adapted to receive and support a coil C of tubeT.

DRAWING UNIT The drawing unit 1 may be of any suitable type, butpreferably is similar to and operates in a manner similar to the capstanand associated apparatus of the drawing unit shown in US. Pat. No.3,536,274 issued Oct. 27, 1970. Unit 1 comprises a base or frame 15supporting capstan 9 for powered rotation about an upright preferablyvertical axis A, at automatically controlled speeds and cycles ofstarting and stopping. A length of tube T to be drawn passes to thecapstan from a coil in a tray 2 in the payoff station S-3 that issupported, raised to position 2, and rotated about an upright preferablyvertical axis by mechanism 16 to permit the tube to unwind from the coilin the tray.

The tray T below the capstan 9 in receiving station S-4 can also beraised to position 2" and power rotated by a mechanism 17.

Die 6 in die box 7 is vertically movable in an upright path, preferablyparallel to axis A on a guide structure 18 fixed to base 15. The capstanis positively rotated as required by an electric motor 19.

When the gripper 8 first grasps the leading end of the tube, the die 6is in its lowermost position and the tube moves from the die to thecapstan in a straight line path in a plane substantially normal tocapstan axis A. The die then is moved rapidly upward in its upright pathwhile the capstan is rotated a predetermined number of turns at apredetermined speed, controlled by suitable means, to cause apredetermined number of widely spaced turns T' of tube to wind initiallyin a single layer on the capstan in sufficient number to cause the tubefrictionally to grip the capstan sufficiently firmly to prevent slippageas the tube is drawn through the die 6 in the drawing operation. The diethen reaches its uppermost position where it remains during the drawingof the remainder of the tube in the coil. The tube leaving the dietravels to the capstan, winds on it and is pushed toward its free end ina single layer by a plow 21 mounted to rotate with and about the capstanin a plane at a suitable angle other than normal to capstan axis A.

Suitable known tube release means on the capstan, such as cuttermechanism 22, releases the tube from the gripper 8 as by cutting it. Astationary guard 23 supported from base 15, surrounds the capstan, andfor safety overlaps the outside of the tray 2 in receiving station 8-4when it is in its raised receiving position 2".

Mechanism 16 raises, rotates and thereafter lowers a tray 2 while it isin the payoff station 8-3; and mechanism 17 raises, rotates and lowers atray 2 while it is in the receiving station S-4. Mechanisms l6 and 17are identical in the illustrated embodiment. Each mechanism 16, 17comprises a member 24 having guides 25 that support for upright andpreferably vertical movement another member 26 that is movable betweenupper and lower positions by a fluid cylinder 27 conventionallycontrolled and actuated. Member 26 supports a tray-supporting head 28for rotation about an axis that is essentially coincident with the axisof the tray; in station S-4 the axis of rotation of head 23 of means 17coincides with axis A. Head 28 closely fits the central opening 11 ofthe associated tray 2 and fixedly supports it for rotation, and isdriven at a proper speed by motor 29.

After the leading end of the tube has been prepared, passed through thedie 6 and grasped by capstan gripper 8, the initial turns of strand arewound on the capstan while the die is moved to its uppermost positionand the tube coil-containing tray 2 in the payoff station 3-3 isrotated. in its elevated position 2' by mechanism 16 to permit payingoff of the tube in that tray. Then, afterathe mechanism 22 has releasedthe tube end from gripper l5, and while rotation of the capstan iscontinued to continue drawing of the tube, the tray 2 in its elevatedposition 2" in the receiving station 8-4 close to the lower free end ofthe capstan, is rotated by mechanism 17 at the same speed as thecapstan. As the capstan rotates, tube passes from the coil in the trayin the payoff station S-3 through die 6 to the capstan on which it windsin a single layer of turns, which are pushed by the plow 21 to the freeend of the capstan, from which they drop into the annular channel 14 ofthe elevated rotating tray in. the receiving station -4 TRAYTRANSPORTATION SYSTEM The illustrated tray transportation system 3comprises several tray supporting cars 30. Each car comprises a base 31adapted to carry one of the trays 2. The

base, which is rigid, has a bay-like opening 32, with its mouth openoutwardly, and its central portion sufficiently large to permit theheads 28 of the tray lifting and rotating mechanisms 17 and 18 in thepayoff and receiving stations to extend through the base of the car andlift the tray free of the car. Base 31 of each car has wheels 33traveling on tracks 34 to support the car from the floor F. The tracksalso bridge the pits Fll and R2 at the payoff and receiving stations inwhich the lifting and rotating mechanisms 16 and I7 are located' belowthe floor level.

The cars move in a guided endless path as shown in FIG. 1, being guidedby suitable means such as the raised edges 35 of tracks 34 on which thewheels of the cars travel, and being moved in the path by suitable meanssuch as a chain 36 that engages each of the cars and is positively movedin an essentially endless path by suitable power means such as motor 37.In the illus- V off the car at station S-l may include stationaryconventional roller type portion 38%, and a horizontally movable rollerportion 39 for moving a tray from por' tion 38 to the base 31 of a car30' in station S-ll. Movable conveyor portion 39 is adapted to be movedinto and out of opening 32 of the car base 31, and in opening 32 to beraised or lowered as required, to transfer a tray from conveyor portion39 to car base 31, or from base 31 to conveyor position 39, by suitableknown means, not shown.

The illustrated transfer system 3 includes suitable control means, andis operable to move a tray in the tray entry and discharge station 8-1to station 8-2 for so that tube preparation operations can be performedon the leading end of the tube that is in the tray in station 8-2.Thereafter the tray is moved to payoff station S-3. After the tray inthat station has been emptied of its coiled tube by passage of its tubeto and through the coil drawing unit 1 and onto the tray in thereceiving station 8-4, the empty tray at the payoff station is thenmoved to receiving station 8-4 for receiving drawn coiled tube fromdrawing unit It that is suplied from another tray that has been moved tostation S-2.

Thereafter the tray containing the coil of drawn tube is moved tosuccessive stations 5-5 around the path until it reaches station 3-]where, depending on the cycle of operations, it is either removed byconveyor apparatus 4 or is again passed to the tube preparation stationS-2 where another cycle is begun.

The coils of tube in the trays in the station S-5 be tween the receivingstation S-4 and the tray entry and discharge position 8-! provide aconsiderable store of tube lengths that on repetitive drawing can berapidly processed and drawn with a minimum number of die changes for thetotal/length of tubing drawn.

Tube Preparation Station FIG. 4 diagrammatically illustrates functionsthat can be performed on the leading end portion of the tube at and bythe tube preparation station S6 of the illustrative embodiment. Thisfigure shows the leading end portion of tube'T extending through the die6 in die box 7 and into the jaws of the gripper 8 of the capstan 9 ofthe drawing unit 1. A plug 41 is shown in the position in which itoccupies inside the tube at the die opening during drawing.

The tube wall is dimpled or depressed inwardly at 42 in the leading endportion of the tube, to prevent the plug from moving rearwardly into thetube as the tube is being pointed, handled and initially passed throughthe die into the gripper jaws. After dimpling and insertion of the plugand lubricant for the plug, the portion 43 of the tube extending beyondthe dimpled portion to the free end of the tube is pointed or reduced toa small enough cross sectional size and for a sufficient length topermit the leading end of the tube to be passed through the die andgrasped by the capstan gripper 8.

The illustrated tube preparation station S-6 comprises a rigid frame 44that includes a vertical post 45 rigidly fixed in the floor F andrigidly supporting one end of a pair of spaced parallel beams 46 havingoppo sitely facing flanges 47 that form an overhead track, the other endof these beams being fixed to base 15 of drawing unit 1. FIG. 4 alsoincludes two rigidly floor mounted spaced vertical posts 48 (FIGS. 1,7)rigidly supporting horizontal beams 49 extending transversely over andfixed to beams 46, posts 48 being located substantial distances frombeams 46.

The tube preparation apparatus also includes pickup mechanism 51 (FIGS.2, for raising the leading end portion of the tube from the coil in thetray at station S-2 to a position in which preparation operations can becarried out on this tube portion. This mechanism includes a winch drum52 mounted on beams 46 and adapted to wind on and wind off a cable 53the lower end of which carries a known actuatable clamp 54 adapted tograsp the tube firmly. Winch drum 52 is rotated as required to lower andraise clamp 54 by a suitable motor 55 which may be hydraulicallyoperated.

The tube preparation station also includes a tube feeder unit 56 (FIGS.1, 2, 5, 6, 8) that comprises a downwardly extending carriage 57 havingrollers 58 that ride on the flanges 47 of beams 46. The carriageincludes near its lower end a tube gripper 60 (FIG. 8) that includes twomovable jaws 61 slidably mounted in guide members 62 fixed to thecarriage and adapted to be moved toward each other to grip the tube andto be retracted to release the tube by hydraulic cylinders 63 operatingbetween the carriage and the jaws. Unit 56 also includes a tube dimpler64 comprising a conventional dimpler head 65 mounted on the piston rod66 of a hydraulic cylinder 67 fixed on carriage 57 and operated asrequired by conventional means to perform the above described dimplingand plug-locating functions while the tube is firmly held by jaws 61.

Carriage 57 is moved along beams 46 (FIG. 5) by hydraulic motor 68through chain 69 and sprockets 70 to move the tube gripper 60 betweenthe location shown in full lines at which the tube is dimpled andpointed, and the location shown in broken lines 56' adjacent die box 7into which the end of the tube is inserted after it has been pointed.Feeder unit 56 travels in a path such that the end of a tube carried bythe gripper 60 travels along an extension of the straight pass line B ofthe length of tube passing from die 6 to capstan 9 when die 6 is in itslowermost position.

The tube preparation station also includes a tube pointer unit 3 (FIGS.1, 2, 5, 6, 7) comprising a conventional tube pointing head 74 that isslidably mounted on a supporting member 75 and movable in a fixedstraight longitudinal path relative to such member by a fluid operatedcylinder 76 connected at one end to member 75 and having its piston rodconnected to the head 74. Head 74 and its supporting member 75 aremounted on the lower end of an arm 77 that extends downwardly from andis pivotally mounted on beam 49 of frame 48 about a vertical axis X, sothat head 74 can be moved into an operative position where it isavailable for pointing the tube end and retracted to an inoperativeposition where it clears the path of travel of feeder unit 56 to andfrom die box 7. The tube pointer unit 73 is thus moved between itsretracted and operative positions by a fluid operated cylinder 78 (FIGS.6 and 7) operating between beams 49 and pivoted arm 77.

The tube preparation station also includes a tube straightening unit 81(FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 6, 9) carried at a fixed location on beams 46. Unit 81comprises in the illustrated embodiment four suitably locatedstraightening rolls 82 mounted on a retractable straightener rollhousing 83.

The straightening rolls are operable to straighten an end portion ofcoiled tube; for this purpose they are positively rotated by hydraulicmotors 84 in housing 83 V The housing 83 is mounted on a movable frame85 that is pivotally supported by downwardly projecting members 86 fixedto rigid transverse members 87 on beams 46.

The straightening unit also comprises a fluid operated cylinder 88 thecylinder portion of which is pivotally connected to members 87 and thepiston rod of which is pivotally connected to the pivotally mountedmovable frame 85 so that the housing 83 and rolls 82 may be retracted toan inoperative position shown in full lines in FIG. 9 and moved to anoperative position shown in broken lines in FIG. 9.

The tube straightening unit is usually held in its retracted positionwhere it does not interfere with tube moved tray 2, except when it istemporarily moved into its operative position where it causes thestraightened tube to be located with its axis along the pass line B. Ingeneral, the straightening unit 81 need be used only to straighten thecurved leading end portion of the first coil that is drawn at thebeginning of a drawing operation, or to straighten the curved leadingend of a coil that has broken at or past the die. Apart from these twoconditions, use of the straightening unit is usually unnecessary, sincethe tail-end portion of a coiled tube in the tray in the payoff station8-3 is straightened by operation of the drawing unit 1 as this portionof the tube passes between the die and the capstan, and on a subsequentdrawing operation this portion of the tube becomes the leading endportion of the tube that is dimpled, has the plug and lubricantinserted, is pointed, and is fed by the tube feeding unit through thedie 6 to the capstan gripper 8.

The illustrated apparatus (FIG. 1) also includes a horizontal rack 89for supporting a straight length of tube that is operated upon by thetube preparation station, if is desired to draw straight lengths oftubes rather than coiled tubes. The straight lengths of tubes, afterdimpling, plug insertion, lubrication, and pointing may be fed throughthe die, gripped by the capstan, gripped, and drawn in the same manneras coiled tubes.

While the invention has been described above in connection with theinitial preparation, handling, and drawing of large diameter tubes, itmay be used for the initial preparation handling and drawing of othertypes of strand materials, including non-tubular strand material. Theinvention, however, provides particular advantages in the initialpreparation and drawing of substantially stiff strand material.

Various modifications may be made in the illustrated apparatus. Forexample, a different type of the drawing unit, or a different type oftray handling system, may be used in connection with a tube preparationstation embodying the invention.

Various modifications apparent to those skilled in the art in additionto those indicated may be made in the apparatus and drawn materialsindicated above, and changes may be made with respect to the featuresdisclosed, provided that the elements set forth in any of the followingclaims or the equivalents of such be employed.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for drawing strand material comprising means for supportingfor movement in an essentially endless closed lateral path a pluralityof receptacles arranged sequentially in said path, each of saidreceptacles having an open top and being supported at all times with itsopen top extending upwardly and being adapted to contain coiled strandmaterial said path having a coil payoff station and a coil receivingstation into which each of said receptacles passes in sequence; drawingmeans for drawing said strand material, said drawing means being locatedin proximity to said payoff station and said receiving station and beingadapted to pull strand material from a coil in a receptacle located insaid path in said payoff station, to draw said strand material, and todeposit said drawn strand material downwardly in a generally horizontalcoil in another receptacle in said receiving station in said path; andmeans for moving said receptacles in said path so a receptaclecontaining a coil is moved to said payoff station in said path, andafter said receptacle has been emptied by drawing of its strand materialtherefrom by said drawing means, said receptacle is moved to saidreceiving station where it can receive strand material depositeddownwardly therein from said drawing means in a generally horizontalcoil.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said receptacles are upwardly opentrays.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said drawing means comprises acapstan that is rotatable about a generally upright axis and has adownwardly extending free end from which strand material is dischargedin a coil into a receptacle located in said path below the free end ofsaid capstan in said receiving station.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising means for carrying outpreparation operations on the leading end of a coil of strand materialin a receptacle before it is passed to said strand drawing apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said means for preparing theleading end of said strand material comprises means for pointing thetube.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said strand material being drawn isa relatively stiff tube, and in which said apparatus for preparing theleading end of said tube includes means for dimpling the tube.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for preparing the end ofsaid strand material includes means for removing the leading end of saidstrand material from a receptacle located in a predetermined position.

8. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said drawing means comprisesdrawing die means, and in which the strand material being drawn isrelatively stiff, and in which said apparatus for preparing the leadingend of the strand material includes means for passing the preparedleading end of the strand material to and through said die means.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the strand material is a relativelystiff tube and in which said means for preparing the leading end of thetube comprises means for withdrawing the leading end of the tube from areceptacle in a predetermined position, dimpling the tube, pointing thetube, and passing the pointed leading end of the tube through drawingdlie means of said apparatus.

10. Apparatus for preparing the leading end of strand material adaptedto be passed to and through strand material drawing means embodyingdrawing die means, which apparatus comprises means for moving an opentopped receptacle containing a coil of strand material sequentially topredetermined generally horizontal preparation and payoff positionswhile said receptacle is maintained generally horizontal with itsopen'top extending upwardly, means for withdrawing the leading end ofstrand material from a coil in a receptacle located in saidpredetermined preparation position and holding said leading end in anelevated location, means for pointing said leading end of said strandmaterial while so held, and means for moving the pointed leading end ofsaid strand material to said die means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said means for moving saidreceptacle is adapted, while the leading end of said strand material ismoved to said die means, to move said receptacle to another positionadjacent said drawing means from which position the strand material ispulled by said drawing means from said receptacle through said diemeans.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said strand material being drawnis a relatively stiff tube, and in which said preparation apparatusincludes means for pointing said tube.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said means for pointing said tubeis adapted to be moved laterally out of the path of travel of said tubeas the leading end of the tube is moved to said die means.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 which includes means for holding the tubeas it is being pointed, which holding means moves the tube in a path tomove the leading end of said tube to said die means.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said strand material isrelatively stiff tube, and in which said preparation apparatus includesmeans for dimpling said tube.

116. The apparatus of claim 10 comprising means for straightening theleading end portion of the tube.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 in which the means for straightening saidtube is adapted to be moved to a retracted position where it does notcontact the tube.

18. Apparatus for drawing strand material, comprising means for movingin a predetermined path receptacles adapted to contain coiled strandmaterial, each of said receptacles having a generally horizontal bottom,an upstanding side wall, and an open top, said means for moving each ofsaid receptacles being adapted to move it sequentially into apreparation station, into a payoff station, and into a coil receivingstation in said path while said receptacle is maintained in a generallyhorizontal position with its open top extending up wardly; drawing meansfor drawing said strand material comprising a capstan that is rotatableabout a generally upright axis and has a downwardly extending free endfrom which strand material is discharged in a coil into one of saidreceptacles located below the free end of said capstan in said receivingstation in said path, said drawing means comprising drawing die meansand being adapted to pull strand material from a coil in one of saidreceptacles in said payoff station in said path, draw strand materialthrough said die means, and wind said strand material on said capstanfrom which it is discharged into said receptacle in said receivingstation;

means for rotating the receptacle while said receptacle is in agenerally horizontal position and in said payoff station while saidcapstan is rotating to draw strand material from the receptacle in saidpayoff station; means for rotating the receptacle in said receivingstation while said receptacle is in a generally horizontal position andwhile strand material is being discharged from said capstan in the formof a coil into said receptacle; and means for carrying out preparationoperations on the leading end of a coil of strand material in areceptacle in said preparation station, which means comprises means forholding the leading end of said strand material in an elevated positionabove said receptacle, means for pointing the leading end of strandmaterial while so held, and means for moving said holding means towardsaid die means so said leading end of strand material can be connectedto said capstan, while moving said receptacle containing the coil havingsaid leading end from said preparation station to said payoff station.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which each of said means for rotating areceptacle in said payoff and receiving stations is adapted to lift saidreceptacle from said means for moving said receptacle in said lateralpath, and rotating said receptacle while it is maintained in a generallyhorizontal position with its open top extending upwardly.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said strand material isrelatively stiff tube and in which said means for preparing the leadingend of said tube includes means for dimpling the tube while it is heldby said holding means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which said pointing means may be movedbetween an operative position in which it can point the leading end ofthe tube to an inoperative position in which it clears the path oftravel of said holding means.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said preparation means includesmeans for straightening the leading end portion of a coil of strand in areceptacle in said preparation station.

23. Apparatus of claim 22 in which said straightening means is adaptedto be moved between an operative position in which it can straightensaid strand material, to an inoperative position in which it is awayfrom a position occupied by the strand material passing from a coil tosaid holding means.

24. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said means for moving saidreceptacles moves them in a substantially endless closed lateral path.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 comprising means for moving receptaclesinto and out of said path.

1. Apparatus for drawing strand material comprising means for supportingfor movement in an essentially endless closed lateral path a pluralityof receptacles arranged sequentially in said path, each of saidreceptacles having an open top and being supported at all times with itsopen top extending upwardly and being adapted to contain coiled strandmaterial said path having a coil payoff station and a coil receivingstation into which each of said receptacles passes in sequence; drawingmeans for drawing said strand material, said drawing means being locatedin proximity to said payoff station and said receiving station and beingadapted to pull strand material from a coil in a receptacle located insaid path in said payoff station, to draw said strand material, and todeposit said drawn strand material downwardly in a generally horizontalcoil in another receptacle in said receiving station in said path; andmeans for moving said receptacles in said path so a receptaclecontaining a coil is moved to said payoff station in said path, andafter said receptacle has been emptied by drawing of its strand materialtherefrom by said drawing means, said receptacle is moved to saidreceiving station where it can receive strand material depositeddownwardly therein from said drawing means in a generally horizontalcoil.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said receptacles are upwardlyopen trays.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said drawing meanscomprises a capstan that is rotatable about a generally upright axis andhas a downwardly extending free end from which strand material isdischarged in a coil into a receptacle located in said path below thefree end of said capstan in said receiving station.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 comprising means for carrying out preparation operations on theleading end of a coil of strand material in a receptacle before it ispassed to said strand drawing apparatus.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 inwhich said means for preparing the leading end of said strand materialcomprises means for pointing the tube.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 inwhich said strand material being drawn is a relatively stiff tube, andin which said apparatus for preparing the leading end of said tubeincludes means for dimpling the tube.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 inwhich the means for preparing the end of said strand material includesmeans for removing the leading end of said strand material from areceptacle located in a predetermined position.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 4 in which said drawing means comprises drawing die means, and inwhich the strand material being drawn is relatively stiff, and in whichsaid apparatus for preparing the leading end of the strand materialincludes means for passing the pRepared leading end of the strandmaterial to and through said die means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 4 inwhich the strand material is a relatively stiff tube and in which saidmeans for preparing the leading end of the tube comprises means forwithdrawing the leading end of the tube from a receptacle in apredetermined position, dimpling the tube, pointing the tube, andpassing the pointed leading end of the tube through drawing die means ofsaid apparatus.
 10. Apparatus for preparing the leading end of strandmaterial adapted to be passed to and through strand material drawingmeans embodying drawing die means, which apparatus comprises means formoving an open topped receptacle containing a coil of strand materialsequentially to predetermined generally horizontal preparation andpayoff positions while said receptacle is maintained generallyhorizontal with its open top extending upwardly, means for withdrawingthe leading end of strand material from a coil in a receptacle locatedin said predetermined preparation position and holding said leading endin an elevated location, means for pointing said leading end of saidstrand material while so held, and means for moving the pointed leadingend of said strand material to said die means.
 11. The apparatus ofclaim 10 in which said means for moving said receptacle is adapted,while the leading end of said strand material is moved to said diemeans, to move said receptacle to another position adjacent said drawingmeans from which position the strand material is pulled by said drawingmeans from said receptacle through said die means.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 10 in which said strand material being drawn is a relatively stifftube, and in which said preparation apparatus includes means forpointing said tube.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 in which said meansfor pointing said tube is adapted to be moved laterally out of the pathof travel of said tube as the leading end of the tube is moved to saiddie means.
 14. The apparatus of claim 12 which includes means forholding the tube as it is being pointed, which holding means moves thetube in a path to move the leading end of said tube to said die means.15. The apparatus of claim 10 in which said strand material isrelatively stiff tube, and in which said preparation apparatus includesmeans for dimpling said tube.
 16. The apparatus of claim 10 comprisingmeans for straightening the leading end portion of the tube.
 17. Theapparatus of claim 16 in which the means for straightening said tube isadapted to be moved to a retracted position where it does not contactthe tube.
 18. Apparatus for drawing strand material, comprising meansfor moving in a predetermined path receptacles adapted to contain coiledstrand material, each of said receptacles having a generally horizontalbottom, an upstanding side wall, and an open top, said means for movingeach of said receptacles being adapted to move it sequentially into apreparation station, into a payoff station, and into a coil receivingstation in said path while said receptacle is maintained in a generallyhorizontal position with its open top extending upwardly; drawing meansfor drawing said strand material comprising a capstan that is rotatableabout a generally upright axis and has a downwardly extending free endfrom which strand material is discharged in a coil into one of saidreceptacles located below the free end of said capstan in said receivingstation in said path, said drawing means comprising drawing die meansand being adapted to pull strand material from a coil in one of saidreceptacles in said payoff station in said path, draw strand materialthrough said die means, and wind said strand material on said capstanfrom which it is discharged into said receptacle in said receivingstation; means for rotating the receptacle while said receptacle is in agenerally horizontal position and in said payoff station while saidcapstan is rotating to draw strand material from the receptacle in saidpayoff station; means for rotating the receptacle in said receivingstation while said receptacle is in a generally horizontal position andwhile strand material is being discharged from said capstan in the formof a coil into said receptacle; and means for carrying out preparationoperations on the leading end of a coil of strand material in areceptacle in said preparation station, which means comprises means forholding the leading end of said strand material in an elevated positionabove said receptacle, means for pointing the leading end of strandmaterial while so held, and means for moving said holding means towardsaid die means so said leading end of strand material can be connectedto said capstan, while moving said receptacle containing the coil havingsaid leading end from said preparation station to said payoff station.19. The apparatus of claim 18 in which each of said means for rotating areceptacle in said payoff and receiving stations is adapted to lift saidreceptacle from said means for moving said receptacle in said lateralpath, and rotating said receptacle while it is maintained in a generallyhorizontal position with its open top extending upwardly.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 18 in which said strand material is relatively stifftube and in which said means for preparing the leading end of said tubeincludes means for dimpling the tube while it is held by said holdingmeans.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20 in which said pointing means may bemoved between an operative position in which it can point the leadingend of the tube to an inoperative position in which it clears the pathof travel of said holding means.
 22. The apparatus of claim 18 in whichsaid preparation means includes means for straightening the leading endportion of a coil of strand in a receptacle in said preparation station.23. Apparatus of claim 22 in which said straightening means is adaptedto be moved between an operative position in which it can straightensaid strand material, to an inoperative position in which it is awayfrom a position occupied by the strand material passing from a coil tosaid holding means.
 24. The apparatus of claim 18 in which said meansfor moving said receptacles moves them in a substantially endless closedlateral path.
 25. The apparatus of claim 24 comprising means for movingreceptacles into and out of said path.